• Posted January 28, 2025

Qigong Effective In Easing Low Back Pain

People with low back pain might want to look into the ancient Chinese mind-body movement exercise known as qigong, a new study published recently suggests.

Qigong is similar to tai chi, in that it uses slow-flowing exercises and still, meditative postures to ease tension and increase flexibility.

The practice brought pain relief and better sleep to a small group of military veterans after eight weeks, compared to another group that didn’t use qigong.

“Stretching, loosening, strengthening and balancing techniques of qigong may release back tension, ease pain and improve flexibility and alignment,” senior researcher Cheryl Krause-Parello, associate vice president for research at Florida Atlantic University, said in a news release.

For the study, a group of 10 veterans with back pain were randomly assigned to take an eight-week course of qigong, researchers said. Another 12 vets were placed on a wait list and served as a control group.

Between 40% to 70% of veterans suffer from chronic pain, and back pain is most commonly reported, researchers said in background notes.

Painkillers aren’t the solution, researchers argue – veterans are more likely to be prescribed opioids than civilians, and are therefore at increased risk of addiction and overdose.

Researchers figured qigong might be a way to help veterans manage back pain without resorting to painkillers.

“This holistic approach addresses the complex challenges faced by veterans with chronic low back pain without relying on medications,” Krause-Parello said.

Qigong is intended to cultivate and balance the body’s energy, which is referred to as “qi” or “life force,” researchers said.

It’s more focused on internal energy work than tai chi but provides a range of therapeutic movements for the spine, among them gentle bending, stretching and strengthening.

“Qigong practice can strengthen the musculoskeletal system and improve joint flexibility, motor function and movement coordination,” Krause-Parello said. “It can activate postural improvements and decrease pain. Importantly, it can improve physical conditions and psychosocial function such as depression and social isolation in veterans with chronic back pain.”

After the eight-week session, qigong participants experienced less pain intensity and disability, results show. Their sleep also improved as a result of the practice, researchers said.

Qigong participants also had lower levels of biological markers associated with pain, like pro-inflammatory chemicals, results show.

“The gentle movements of qigong enhance blood circulation, flexibility, and muscle relaxation, alleviating chronic pain that can interfere with sleep, researchers added in their study.

The researchers concluded that health care providers who work with low back pain sufferers should consider qigong as a potential treatment.

“Armed with this knowledge, health care providers, such as nurses and physical therapists, should actively consider incorporating nonpharmacological interventions like qigong into treatment plans to enhance the overall well-being of veterans dealing with chronic low back pain,” Krause-Parello said.

The new study appears in the journal Pain Management Nursing.

More information

The National Institutes of Health has more about qigong.

SOURCE: Florida Atlantic University, news release, Jan. 17, 2025